Good-bye, tWitch
By: Peggy Willms
(3 min read)
Mental Health affects all of us in one way or the other, whether personally or if you haven’t been under a rock, you are aware of increased awareness in the media.
The suicide of tWitch (Stephen Boss) this week has hit me more than Robin Williams, Anthony Bourdain, and Kate Spade, who were the most recent three influences on my own mental health issues. Meaning the impact of their choices weighed heavy on me and still does, not because they were famous, but because they were the masks of “having it all.” I have also had many people around me choose to end their life, but tWitch’s death has me shaken!
I cannot read social media posts or articles or watch videos about him without deep stabbing pains in the center of my heart and a box of tissue close by. Writing true, authentic, and personal stories is what connects us, and I feel connected to you at this moment. Thus, I am sharing my thoughts and feelings.
I have been a fan of tWitch since 2008 when he got second place on So You Think You Can Dance (SYTYCD). He also met his wife, Allison, on the show, and they went on to share three children. I have followed his family for years, captivated by their humor, love, and sense of family.
After SYTYCD, he became most famous for his energy, positivity, and heartfelt approach to complicated subjects such as racial inequality. Most people were introduced to tWitch when he became the DJ on the Ellen DeGeneres show in 2014. He was also an actor, producer, but most importantly, husband and father.
I am not going to spend time hopping on the bandwagon conversations that many are having like, why do people make these decisions or respond to questions such as, “How selfish and inconsiderate. Do they even think of those they have “left behind?” The people who have “been there” know. We know! Those types of conversations are most often held by those who have never been on the dark side. The “viewers” I call them. The ones who have no right to be judge and jury.
I am going to focus on ONE LOVE. Simply put, we do not spend enough time telling those around us how important they are or how they have impacted or influenced our life. Sure, you talk amongst yourselves or can write a helluva an obituary when it’s over. But do we share with the source? Hmm
We are too wrapped up in our own damn agendas with a mindless belief system that we always have tomorrow to share how we feel or what we think of others. WE DON’T. You cannot bank on tomorrow.
There is no “face” of mental health. There are frequently no signs or cries for help from those of us who battle mental health every single day. It takes, on average, a decade for someone with severe mental health issues to seek professional help – if ever. A DECADE! Years of suffering alone is not a personal choice, like choosing to consume a mega bag of Doritos or where you might go on vacation. It is a burden. It is not welcomed. It shows up at the most inconvenient times. It hides until it doesn’t. It is dark and ugly. And, trust me, it is not because of a lack of faith.
Often, you won’t see signs of massive depression like you might see other signs of distress such as empty bottles of Jack on the counter giving signs you might have an alcoholic on your hands or an empty bank account because your loved one gambles. Deep manic depression is inconsistent, powerful, and silent suffering that causes massive tunnel vision, not because of selfishness, but because you want the pain to stop, and “ending” it all is rarely done in the moment. Many times the scene has been thought through a million times.
I beg of you, check in often with those you love, especially those who seem to have their shit together. Check in with those who always respond with, “I’m fine.” Check in with those who are funny, energetic, and successful. THOSE ARE THE FACES. Those are the ones who have internal conversations about ways to escape the disgusting rollercoaster ride of darkness.
Please don’t dismiss the importance of telling someone how they have positively impacted your life, or you might be having conversations after the fact as you try to sift through the shock as to why you think they have done what they have done. Honor them when they are alive and have conversations about what might be going on with them before they do something.
Pry like hell. PRY LIKE HELL.
And, BEFORE IT’S TOO LATE, fucking call someone today, and trust me, call the ones who seem like they have it all.
Peggy Willms
All Things Wellness, LLC
peggy@allthingswellness.com
The information provided is the opinion of the author. It is not a substitute for professional medical advice: diagnosis, or treatment. The author, the business, All Things Wellness, LLC, and its owner Peggy Willms, are not liable for risks or issues associated with using or acting upon the information in this article or website. We assume no responsibility for tangible and intangible damages such as physical harm caused by using a product, loss of profits or loss of data, and defamatory comments. This post may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I may earn from qualifying purchases.
